LETTER CONCERNING M. ANDRE LEROT. 39 



has secured Avith a certain tract purchased, an ancient chateau, 

 which he is now restoring, and which was in its day, of doubtless 

 great renown, as it has embroidered in its stone tablets, royal 

 quarterings and also the evidence of its having sheltered the 

 Knights Templars, as the chapel is in good preservation and the 

 " scollop shell " of the Crusaders, sculptured on its stone walls 

 testify its former uses and origin. Another interesting feature 

 connected with this nursery is the "Hospital" for the worn out 

 workmen, who have become incapable of further work. I saw 

 these old men, who had been in the employ of Mr. Leroy's father, 

 sunning themselves and well taken care of, and could not but 

 appreciate the propriety of such benevolence. 



His collection of pears and apples is very complete, and com- 

 prises we presume every known variety save perhaps some new 

 seedlings of American origin. His catalogue of 1866, embraces, 

 including synonymes, nearly 1,000 varieties of pears, and over 500 

 of apples, and in his great Avork on Fruits, now publishing, he 

 informed me that the drawings and descriptions are all from trees 

 in bearing and from the actual fruit. 



It would be of little service to do more than mention the fact, 

 that there are acres of roses, rhododendrons, forest and other trees, 

 surubs and small fruits, including all the known varieties of grapes 

 cultivated in Europe; the greatest demand is, however, for the 

 " Chassclas of Fontaiubleau," for private planting and table pur- 

 poses- — a small white grape, which keeps well. I found a corner 

 of his vineyard occupied by a few unthrifty vines from America, 

 among which were Isabella, Catawba, Lenoir, Charter Oak, &c. No 

 wonder they think our native grapes unfit for cultivation, with 

 such varieties, and placed against a north wall, where the sun 

 could not reach roots or vines. 



I cannot close these brief remarks without referrinof to the sfreat 

 work M. Leroyis engaged in, viz: his " Dictionary of Pomology," 

 in 5 vols., 8°. Two volumes will alone be occupied with pears. 

 Accompanying this will be found advance sheets showing the com- 

 pleteness of the work, than which nothing can be moie thorouo-h 

 and exhaustive. It has occupied years of labor, and the cost of 

 the first impression has been near 50,000 francs. As this will doubt- 

 less be the standard work for foreign varieties, I recommend him to 

 also have it issued in the English language, and it is perhaps 

 likely to be done. Let me briefly indicate its style, as follows: 



